Art blog

Here are a few items and ideas that can enhance your time while painting even if you do not have much space. I have my little painting corner in the living room because that is the only place for it. But even with just a corner I am able to have everything I need to enjoy my time painting. So let us get to it!

1. OrganizationThis may go without saying but being organized will solve a lot of time and possible frustration in the future. This may require a small purchase of shelves, or a shelving unit but I promise you it will be worth your money. I only have three drawers in my little unit and am able to fit everything I need in those. In the top drawer I have paintbrushes. The second drawer I have the paints. And in the third drawer I have the paint mediums, pencils, rulers, and the other miscellaneous items. It iss a simple thing but keeps everything organized and can be done in a very small space. In my previous house I used the drawers of an end table. An extra purchase wasnât necessary and everything was all hidden and organized.

â2. LightingThe lighting in the room changes everything in a painting. Whites may look off-white, and light greens may look yellow. Natural light is always the best answer but is not always possible when space is limited. There are many types of craft lights one can purchase. I use the Ottlite J8600C Cone LED Lamp (link below). You can find it on Amazon for about

forty dollars. I like it because it clips on my easel and has a neck that can bend every which way and stays in place. Other lights work just great but you need somewhere to set them which may not be possible with limited space.

â3. Comfortable and Work Friendly SeatingI overlooked the value of having something comfortable to sit on while painting for a long time. At first I bought one of those little ten dollar stools from IKEA because I thought it looked cooler if I had a painting stool, and because it was small and space efficient. But after back aches from hours spent on the stool I decided to change. Now I use a small office type chair that has a back and a height lever but no arm rests (which is important because it can restrict movement while painting). Having something to lean back on every once in a while eases tension in the back. And being able to adjust the height on the chair saves time on changing the height

of the easel. I am not saying you have to sit to paint, many times I stand to paint, but having a comfortable and work friendly chair to sit on can make your time painting much easier and much more enjoyable.

4. Floor CoveringIf you are working in the living room, or something similar, you donât want to accidently spill paint on the carpet or floor and have a big paint stain. Yes, paint removers can be used but why not just prevent having to use those in the first place. When I first started painting I just used newspaper but letâs be honest, that doesnât look very good. I could not just leave it there when I was not working and had to make sure I had newspaper always on hand. Now I use those interlocking puzzle square mats. They are easy to clean if spilled on, soft to work on, and I think it frames in my workspace to make it look clean and tidy. These can be bought at any Walmart or similar department store. If you can work in a place where spilled paint doesnât matter, then all the better!Here are just a few things that I have learned while painting in small spaces. If you have any other suggestions or tips, post them so we can all benefit!

Author

Hey all! I'm Brian, the artist of this blog. I've been painting for a few years now and have enjoyed every minute of it. This art blog will include posts about my newest paintings, tips about painting methods, and reviews of products. If you have anything you would like me to write about, just let me know!